Hand-written Text Recognition: Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence to Transcribe and Search

As part of the exclusive “Artificial Intelligence for Genealogists” series, this webinar explores how AI-powered tools—specifically the software Transkribus—are revolutionizing the transcription of historical handwritten records. For genealogists, this technology represents a transformative opportunity to uncover hidden ancestral details, make vast record sets searchable, and overcome longstanding research brick walls with increased accuracy and efficiency.

Key Takeaways:

• Transkribus Offers Powerful AI-Driven Transcription for Handwritten Records:
  Transkribus uses advanced neural networks trained on historical documents to convert scanned handwritten texts into searchable machine-readable formats. This makes it especially useful for processing large, unindexed archives, even in unfamiliar languages or difficult handwriting styles.

• Handwritten Text Recognition (HTR) Outperforms Large Language Models (LLMs) for Transcription Accuracy:
  Hoitink’s comparison between Transkribus and tools like ChatGPT revealed that purpose-built HTR systems provide significantly more reliable and text-faithful transcriptions, especially with obscure names or foreign scripts. Unlike LLMs, Transkribus does not “hallucinate” plausible but incorrect content.

• HTR Enables Advanced Research Strategies and Breakthrough Discoveries:
  By transcribing thousands of pages from Dutch court records, Hoitink uncovered over 100 relevant documents for a single client, reconstructing family lines back to the early 1500s. She also shared methods for using HTR outputs in full-text searches—such as wildcard searches, associative name targeting, and land description matching—to find records beyond traditional indexing systems.

To see how this powerful technology can elevate your own research, be sure to watch the full webinar. Yvette Hoitink’s hands-on demonstrations and real-world case studies provide practical guidance and a clear understanding of both the strengths and limitations of AI-driven transcription tools.

For those ready to dive deeper, don't miss the wealth of supplemental materials provided in the webinar syllabus. It includes step-by-step instructions, model selection advice, and links to further tutorials—essential tools for any genealogist looking to expand their digital skillset and uncover new ancestral insights through the power of AI.